Reviewer Simon Jary gave the 400MHz model an 8.4 rating out of ten, with both the 500Mhz and 600MHz units receiving 8.8 ratings. Jary commented that the low-end model, while a good entry level digital video systems, is “not as cheap as (the) previous entry-level iMac; (with) only 64MB of RAM; (and) CD-ROM drive only.”
With the faster 600Mhz processor, beefier hard drive and RAM with a CD-RW drive, Jary believes the high-end model is a good deal, but fancies the mid-range 500MHz model more because of its price, color options and features at a fair price.
“The £999 (inc. VAT) price tag (US$1,199) isn’t as cheap as the old iMac DV, but you do get a 100MHz faster G3 and twice the hard-disk space,” Jary writes. “As there’s no bargain iMac any more, I’d recommend you try to save the extra for the 500MHz iMac, which should be well fast enough (and have enough hard-disk space) for most of us.”
Writing about the new color schemes, Jary commented, “while they’re hippy, it’s hard to see any ‘hip’ in Flower Power. For the life of me, I just can’t see trendy iMac chief-designer Jonathan Ive thinking this design was in any way ‘cool.'”
“Apple denies that either iMac pattern is aimed specifically at women, but the backside Apple logo is pastel-pink on the Flower and pastel-blue on the Dalmatian. Macworld staffers were almost unanimous in thinking each was aimed at girls and boys respectively.”